Sinusitis decisions — 2018

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions including PTSD, MDD, a left knee condition, respiratory issues, and a skin condition. The cases are being returned to obtain additional medical opinions and evidence.

The Board has granted service connection for sleep apnea secondary to service-connected unspecified anxiety disorder, but the issues of service connection for allergic rhinitis, asthma, a skin disability, and migraine headaches are remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for additional development due to inadequate medical opinions and missing VA treatment records.

The Veteran's claims for PTSD, sinusitis, and pseudofolliculitis barbae have been reopened. The Veteran is not service connected for PTSD at this time.,PTSD: Service connection has not been established as the Veteran does not meet the criteria for a current disability of PTSD.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus, allergic rhinitis, and tension headaches have been granted. The Veteran's claim for a heart disorder has been denied. Other issues related to his service-connected conditions or disabilities are being remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for cervical spine, lumbar spine, left foot, chronic fatigue syndrome, and obstructive sleep apnea disabilities. The claims for seizure disorder and blackouts/convulsions have been reopened.,Service connection was also granted for chronic sinusitis and lung cancer.

The Board has remanded the claims for sarcoidosis, migraine headaches, and sinusitis due to insufficient evidence or procedural issues. The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for his sinusitis evaluation remains unresolved.

The Board denied service connection for constipation due to Gulf War exposure, but granted service connection for hair loss (alopecia). The Board also remanded the issues of service connection for sinus infection and respiratory condition.,The Veteran's claims for shortness of breath were not fully addressed in the decision.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions do not render him unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment.

The Board denied service connection for sinusitis and allergic rhinitis, and granted a 10% rating for GERD throughout prior to September 26, 2017. The Veteran's vocal cord disorder was rated at 10% prior to that date.

The Board has remanded the case for a new VA examination to assess the severity of the Veteran's service-connected allergic rhinitis and chronic rhinosinusitis, as well as provide a retrospective medical opinion regarding his reports prior to November 21, 2013.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, but has remanded them for further development and examination.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's asthma may be related to her service-connected allergic rhinitis, but needs further evidence and a medical opinion to determine this relationship.

The Veteran's allergic rhinitis and migraines are service-connected, with the latter being secondary to her service-connected allergic rhinitis. The right shoulder disability is remanded for further examination, as is the eye disability. The bilateral foot disability is also remanded.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for a coccyx bone disorder, right eye disorder, and sinusitis due to new and material evidence. The claims are now remanded for further development.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for chronic sinusitis is granted. The Board finds that the Veteran has had six or more non-incapacitating episodes of sinusitis per year, characterized by headaches, pain, and purulent discharge, warranting a 30 percent disability rating. However, his sinusitis does not meet the criteria for a higher rating as it did not result in incapacitating episodes requiring prolonged antibiotic treatment or repeated surgeries. The Veteran's appeal for service connection for fibromyalgia is remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's service-connected hearing loss is granted, but ratings for the condition prior to January 8, 2018, and on and after that date are denied. Service connection for sinusitis is granted.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for headaches has been reopened and granted. The claims for service connection for pes planus, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, upper respiratory condition (including sinusitis), pulmonary condition (including emphysema, COPD, and chronic airway obstruction not elsewhere classified), sleep apnea, heart condition, and gastrointestinal condition have been remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding his musculoskeletal pain, chronic fatigue syndrome, allergic rhinitis, and acquired psychiatric disorders.

The Veteran's sinusitis and obstructive sleep apnea have been rated at 50% each, resulting in a combined rating of 70%. The Board has granted a TDIU based on the service-connected disabilities.